Has my application been started by hand?

Question

I am developing a Forms application that is either supposed to start on Windows boot (by registering a key in the registry) or by the actual user.

In case the user starts it by hand (i.e. clicking the executable file), I want the form to show up. In case Windows triggered the event, I want the application to be hidden (into the tray bar).

Is there a way to programmatically determine which of those cases occured?

Easy solution is passing in some argument when it's started from autostart. Something like `myapp.exe /hide` — CodesInChaos, Nov 27 '12 at 15:09

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

7

I would suggest adding a command line parameter, something like -minimized and pass that when starting it on boot.

See this thread if you are looking for how to read the arguments.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

Community

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answered Nov 27 '12 at 15:10

emartel

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score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 27 '12 at 15:10

3

You can start you application upon Windows startup with a certain parameter, while a user will start it without this parameter.

answered Nov 27 '12 at 15:10

Flot2011

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 27 '12 at 15:11

The easiest way to do that, that I can think about, is:

When you register to run in Windows boot, pass a parameter (some default parameter), in case when user will run it, parameter will be absent.

In this way you would be able, depending on presence or absence of a paremeter, to determine the startup option of your program.

Has my application been started by hand?

3 Answers3